Fertilizers?

[jacko9901]

hi

i am planning on getting a tank soon and it is going to be a planted tank. I am going to have CO2 but what fertilizer is the best one to use.

 

[aaronnorth]

Tropica plant nutrition, or the 'plus' version (contains added N&P)

TPN is designed for heavy stocked tanks as the fish creat the nitrate and phosphate
TPN+ is designed for lighter stocked tanks as not as much nitrae & phosphate is in the water column.

 

[Renate]

A young lady at this site has lushes growth of plants and doesn't use ferts. She only uses diy co2.

http/www.plantedtank.net/forums/low-tech...ch-journal.html

I have found dry fert last longer and are cheaper. Got an excellent link for some but they don't ship outside the USA. I like potassium sulfate and iron. Potasssium sulfate because plants need a lot of it and iron because it keep plants red with low light. Don't forget lighting is the most essential item for plants, thus research your plants for light you have or will have.

 

[Colonel Mustard]

Aqua essentials will suply to people in the UK if that is where you are!

 

[jacko9901]

Aqua essentials will suply to people in the UK if that is where you are!

so what type should i get dry or liquid. which one works better?

 

[aaronnorth]

Dry gives a higher dose of macros
Liquid gives a trace of macro's

both give the same micro's

 

[jacko9901]

did a bit of research on the forum and found out this EI method. what is it and is it easy to do?

 

[aaronnorth]

You basically overdose on nutrients -

pottasium nitrate - KNO3 (for the nitrate)
pottasium phosphate - K2PO4 (for the phosphate)
pottasium sulphate - KSO4 (for extra pottasium although enough is usually doesed with the above)
magnesium sulphate - MgSO4 (for Magnesium if you tawater is low but not many people use this)
GH Booster (if you have a GH lower than 4degrees)

Have you seen the pinned article at the top of the page? You also need 30ppm CO2 (which means pressurized)

 

[Wolfenrook]

He forgot to mention a good trace mix. Can be problematic if you keep inverts however, as the copper levels in these mixes are usually quite high.

You can get equally good results (if at greater expense) doing Tropica Plant Nutrition +, without all the faffing with powders etc. Better to use if you don't have great lighting, pressurised CO2 and 10x (rated) turnover as well.

Ade

 

[jacko9901]

thanks everyone for the replies.

i will probably go for the tropica plant nutrition.

 

[aaronnorth]

You could make a DIY TPN+

http/www.theplantedtank.co.uk/allinone.htm

You could also add extra PO4 & NO3 as TPN+ lacks this.